Richmond Food News: Week of Aug. 3-7

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Food News & Trends

Collaborations abound this week. Whether it's beer, new partnerships or some national recognition for one of #RVAdine's best restaurateur teams, it's been a week for doing it better together. Read on for the latest in people, places and things like new spots opening and great weekend events comin' your way:

  • You want a pizza this? By "this," I mean Pizza Tonight Restaurant & Bar, the mobile pizza truck's first brick and mortar, so I'm guessing your answer is a resounding "YES." The Shockoe spot will offer so much more than pizza when it opens in October, though; Randall Doetzer, the recently-announced executive chef, teamed up with Pizza Tonight's Victoria DeRoche to plan and execute the menu full of wood-fired goods including handmade pastas, house-made bread and a specials board dedicated to locally-sourced meals made from whole-animal cooking. Get the full piece right over here and learn about that secret-but-not-really-secret parking situation. (Richmond magazine)
  • I've got some good news, pho real. (I'm sorry. The puns will stop someday, probably.) Chesterfield County, you're getting a Pho So 1 and I am more than slightly jealous. Construction is underway at 10201 Midlothian Turnpike and the restaurant should open in roughly one month for all your broth/noodle needs. (Richmond.com/Richmond Times Dispatch)
  • In beer news, Virginia Pride is getting its very own craft beer! Wild Wolf Brewing Co. will release Saisons of Love, the official brew of Virginia Pride, on Aug. 27. Check out the full story on the collaboration and get into the groove, because the Pride pre-party where you'll first find the beer is, fabulously, Madonna-themed. (Richmond magazine)
  • And here's your gentle reminder: Max's Positive Vibe Café reopens tomorrow! Go check out its new local focus and don't forget that every single one of your visits will still be for a great cause. (See also: local bison meat. Did you know that existed? No? Now you do.) (Richmond magazine)
  • Looking ahead to September, brace yourselves for the traffic and the chaos (but also the excitement) of the UCI Road World Championships races, as well as nine days of pop-up dining. The Underground Kitchen is throwing Pop Up Revolution in Manchester, complete with nightly dinners, gospel brunches, a tasting/demo bar and retail pavilion. (Richmond magazine)
  • Also happening in September: the return of Balliceaux! The restaurant/venue/bar will reopen Sept. 1 with a new chef and an Eastern-cuisine focus featuring Thai, Cambodian and Vietnamese dishes. (Style Weekly)
  • Prepare to pucker up this summer because we've got a round-up of the best sour beers in town. (Richmond magazine)
  • Looking to open up your own restaurant? Sahara restaurant's former location is now for sale, located at 813 E. Grace St. in prime VCU territory. (Richmond BizSense)
  • In #DemolitionDerby news, here's an update on that Growlers To Go in Short Pump: so much construction. Seriously. Click that link. The beer emporium's second location is a few months behind, but we're sure it'll be worth the wait. (RVANews)
  • Perk Coffee + Lunchbox is making it so, so easy to beat the heat. The Bon Air coffee shop and café is now offering free Perk! mason jars with any purchase of an iced beverage, and each time you bring back your mug you'll get 10 percent off future iced beverage orders. Once you've got your cute-fancy mug, snap an Instagram photo of it with "#perksummer" for a chance to win a gift card. Sweet deals all around. (news release)
  • Wish you could savor summer all year long? Check out our latest issue for tips on how to preserve the season's best produce, then check out our web extra, this family recipe, to learn all about making your own freezer pickles. Well, what are you waiting for? (Richmond magazine)
  • And last but certainly not least, an enormous congratulations to Southbound, named one of Bon Appétit magazine's top 50 new restaurants in the country! (Southbound)

Rain or shine, these events are here for you like a warm hug:

  • Tomorrow, Friday, the 10th Annual Filipino Festival returns to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church from 5 to 10 p.m. and again on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eat your way through Filipino barbecue, lumpia, adobo, flan and more, ranging from $2 to $7. BONUS: proceeds aid various charities. See you there? (No really, I will be there at the Richmond magazine booth at some point. Come say hi.)
  • Friday, ZZQ returns to Ardent Craft Ales for another barbecue pop-up. For those keeping score at home, it's actually been three weeks since the last ZZQ pop-up, because July was a freak month with too many weeks in it. Tomorrow the ZZQ dream team will be serving up beef ribs for the first time this summer, so be there at 5 p.m. or be pretty sad you missed 'em. 
  • In anticipation of Sunday's big, watermelon-y event, Hardywood is releasing its Watermelon Gose on Saturday from 2 to 9 p.m. Salt and watermelon is a great combination, so I'm willing to go out on a limb here and say Hardywood will have made something beautiful by combining salt and watermelon and beer. (Hardywood Park Craft Brewery)
  • It's coming, Richmond. Wait, oh God, it's almost here. The 32nd Annual Carytown Watermelon Festival descends once more upon the palates of Richmond this Sunday, hosting more than 100,000 people and more than 100 vendors. This year's event offers six live-music stages for its more-than-35 live acts. And, of course, there will be watermelon. (So much watermelon.) Remember: If you purchase goods from the Shriners, proceeds will benefit the Shriners Hospital for children. Hit up Carytown between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. for one of the city's largest festivals. (But maybe bring some Wetnaps to clean up all the watermelon juice you'll inevitably be covered with.)
  • Sunday is also the day for The Rogue Gentlemen's #freecuba pig roast and rum party, complete with so many tropical drinks featuring so much pineapple and, the best part, rum. Head to The Rogue Gentlemen from 1 to 6 p.m. for a daiquiri-laden day. (Richmond magazine)
  • And before or after that, stop by Saison Market for a milk and yogurt tasting with Old Church Creamery from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be lattes made with the creamy, high-butterfat milk these grass-fed Jersey cows produce, which is a latte I could definitely go for right about now (and always). (news release)
  • On Tuesday, give all the shucks. Metzger Bar & Butchery is offering $1 Ruby Salts Oyster Co. oysters all night long to benefit the Virginia Oyster Shell Recycling Program. Read up on all that good business here, and then get slurpin' for a great cause. (Metzger Bar & Butchery)

And now for a few (inter)national links:

  • STOP THE PRESSES. You can get a free taco tonight every time Donald Trump says the word "Mexico" during the GOP debate. Every time our nation's most outlandish toupee speaks this word, delivery website Eat24 will tweet a $5 coupon that will cover the cost of a taco (or anything else that's under $5 through the site), good with any $10 purchase. Keep your eyes on that Twitter page, fam. (Mashable)
  • A read well worth your time: "The Life Cycle of a Modern-Day Chef." I know you know it's not all roses and James Beard Awards. (First We Feast)

'Til next time, pass us that entire catering tray of lumpia.